Trey Hendrickson's Doubtful Tag Prompts Backups for the Cincinnati Bengals

As the Cincinnati Bengals gear up for a critical AFC matchup against the Buffalo Bills, the team’s defensive game plan has been thrown into flux by a single designation: star defensive end Trey Hendrickson being listed as “doubtful” with a knee injury. Hendrickson, who leads the Bengals with 11 sacks this season and ranks among the NFL’s top 10 in pass-rush win rate (26.3%), is the backbone of the team’s defensive line—a player whose absence would force a major reshuffling of personnel and tactics. The “doubtful” tag, which the NFL defines as a 75% chance of not playing, has prompted the Bengals’ coaching staff to shift into overdrive, preparing backup defensive ends to step into the void and adjusting their defensive schemes to compensate for the potential loss. Trey Hendrickson's Doubtful Tag Prompts Backups for the Cincinnati Bengals explores the implications of this designation, the backups poised to fill the role, and how the Bengals are working to keep their defensive momentum intact.

The “doubtful” tag for Hendrickson stems from a knee sprain he sustained in the fourth quarter of the Bengals’ Week 14 win over the Denver Broncos—a injury that initially appeared minor but worsened during practice earlier this week. Video footage from the Broncos game shows Hendrickson collapsing to the turf after engaging in a block, then gingerly walking to the sidelines while clutching his right knee. He returned to the game later in the quarter, leading many to assume the injury was insignificant, but subsequent practice reports revealed he was limited to light stretching and did not participate in any contact drills. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor addressed the situation in a Wednesday press conference, stating, “Trey is day-to-day, but we’re being cautious. We don’t want to risk further injury if he’s not 100%.” The timing of the injury couldn’t be worse: the Bills boast one of the NFL’s most dynamic passing offenses, led by Josh Allen, who has thrown for 3,800 yards and 28 touchdowns this season. Hendrickson’s ability to pressure Allen from the edge has been a key part of the Bengals’ defensive game plan for weeks, making his potential absence a major concern. Trey Hendrickson's Doubtful Tag Prompts Backups for the Cincinnati Bengals notes that while the Bengals have depth at defensive end, no player on the roster can match Hendrickson’s combination of speed, strength, and football IQ—making the backup plan critical to the team’s success.

The Bengals’ primary backup to Hendrickson is Sam Hubbard, a sixth-year veteran who has spent his entire career in Cincinnati and has proven himself capable of stepping into a larger role. Hubbard, who has 6.5 sacks and 12 quarterback hits this season, typically lines up at the opposite defensive end spot but has extensive experience playing Hendrickson’s side in nickel and dime packages. Video breakdowns of Hubbard’s play show he uses a different pass-rush approach than Hendrickson: while Hendrickson relies on speed and quickness to beat offensive tackles, Hubbard uses power and technique, often bull-rushing linemen to create pressure. Against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11, Hubbard recorded two sacks using this bull-rush technique, including a critical takedown of Kenny Pickett on third-and-long that forced a punt. “Sam is a different player than Trey, but he’s just as effective in his own way,” says Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. “He understands our system inside and out, and he’s ready to step up if needed.” The Bengals have also been giving more practice reps to second-year defensive end Joseph Ossai, who has 3 sacks and 8 tackles for loss this season. Ossai, a former third-round pick, has shown flashes of potential but lacks the consistency of Hubbard, making him a likely second option if Hubbard moves to Hendrickson’s spot. Trey Hendrickson's Doubtful Tag Prompts Backups for the Cincinnati Bengals emphasizes that while Hubbard and Ossai are talented, the Bengals will need both to play at a high level to compensate for Hendrickson’s absence.

For the Cincinnati Bengals, Hendrickson’s doubtful tag has forced a major adjustment to their defensive scheme—specifically, a shift from a “four-man rush” to a more aggressive “three-man rush with blitzes” to maintain pressure on Allen. Under normal circumstances, the Bengals rely on their four defensive linemen to generate pressure without blitzing, allowing their secondary to drop into coverage and limit deep passes. But without Hendrickson, Anarumo has been practicing a scheme where three defensive linemen (including Hubbard and Ossai) focus on holding the line, while a linebacker or safety blitzes from the edge or middle. During Tuesday’s practice, the Bengals ran this scheme repeatedly, with linebacker Logan Wilson and safety Jessie Bates III taking turns blitzing from the edge. The goal is to create confusion for the Bills’ offensive line, which will have to adjust to different blitz packages on the fly. “We can’t just replace Trey with one player—we have to replace him with a scheme,” Anarumo explained. For the Cincinnati Bengals, this scheme shift is a calculated risk: while it increases pressure on Allen, it also leaves the secondary vulnerable to deep passes if the blitz is picked up. To mitigate this risk, the Bengals have been practicing “zone coverage adjustments,” where cornerbacks drop deeper into the end zone to prevent touchdowns if the blitz fails. Trey Hendrickson's Doubtful Tag Prompts Backups for the Cincinnati Bengals explores how this scheme adjustment has become the centerpiece of the Bengals’ game plan, as they look to offset the loss of their top pass-rusher.

The Cincinnati Bengals’ backup defensive ends have also been putting in extra work behind the scenes to prepare for a potential start, including studying film of the Bills’ offensive tackles and practicing specific pass-rush moves tailored to their opponents. Hubbard has spent hours reviewing footage of Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins, who has allowed just 3 sacks this season and is considered one of the best pass-blockers in the NFL. “Dion is a physical tackle who likes to lean into pass-rushers,” Hubbard said in an interview. “I’ve been practicing a ‘swim move’ to get around him—something that works against his style of blocking.” Ossai, meanwhile, has been working with defensive line coach Marion Hobby on improving his “spin move,” a technique he used to sack Allen in the Bengals’ 2022 matchup against the Bills. The Bengals’ practice facility has also been modified to simulate the Bills’ offensive formations, with the scout team running through Buffalo’s most common plays to give the backup defensive ends a chance to practice their reactions. For the Cincinnati Bengals, this extra preparation is a testament to the team’s culture of “next man up”—a philosophy that emphasizes every player being ready to contribute, regardless of their usual role. “We don’t have time to feel sorry for ourselves if Trey can’t play,” Hobby said. “Sam and Joseph have to be ready, and they’re putting in the work to make sure they are.” Trey Hendrickson's Doubtful Tag Prompts Backups for the Cincinnati Bengals notes that this level of preparation is critical, as the Bills’ offensive line is one of the most disciplined in the NFL, and any mistake by the backup defensive ends could lead to Allen having extra time to throw.

Finally, Hendrickson’s doubtful tag has sparked a debate among Bengals fans and analysts about whether the team should risk playing him against the Bills, even if he’s not fully healthy. A local sports radio poll asking, “Should the Bengals play Trey Hendrickson against the Bills if he’s only 80% healthy?” drew over 10,000 votes, with 58% of fans saying “yes” and 42% saying “no.” Supporters of playing Hendrickson argued that his presence alone would disrupt the Bills’ offense, even if he’s not at full speed, while opponents warned that a reinjury could sideline him for the playoffs. National analysts have also weighed in, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeting, “The Bengals face a tough call with Hendrickson: risk him now for a critical win, or sit him to ensure he’s healthy for the playoffs.” For the Cincinnati Bengals, this debate highlights the high stakes of the Bills game: a win would keep their AFC North title hopes alive, while a loss could push them into a precarious wild-card position. Taylor has remained noncommittal about his decision, stating that he will “listen to the medical staff and Trey” before making a final call on game day. Trey Hendrickson's Doubtful Tag Prompts Backups for the Cincinnati Bengals concludes that regardless of whether Hendrickson plays, the Bengals’ backup plan will be put to the test—and its success could determine the trajectory of their season. Whether it’s Hubbard stepping up, the defensive scheme adjusting, or the backups executing their roles, the Bengals know they need to come together to overcome the potential loss of their star defensive end. As Allen and the Bills prepare to take the field, the Bengals’ backup plan will be under the microscope—and the team’s ability to adapt could be the difference between a win and a loss.